December 19: Reflection

Theme: God answers prayers

Readings: Judges 13:2–7,24–25; Lk 1:5–25

Our God answers prayers. It is true that some situations in our lives raise doubts in our minds about whether God answers our prayers or not; however, for those who are willing to see both the ordinary and extraordinary happenings in our lives, every moment of our lives is filled with clear signs of God’s involvement, intervention, and response to our honest calls. The scriptures are also packed with evidences of God’s interventions in people’s lives, particularly in circumstances that were thought to be impossible.

The readings of today show us two instances where God intervened in unlikely circumstances. In the first reading, Hannah was childless and had already been declared barren by the people, but God heard her prayers and did what people thought was impossible. He gave her a son, Samson. The second instance was that of Elizabeth in the gospel of today. She was both barren and beyond the reproductive age. But nothing is impossible to our God. In Elizabeth’s life, God wrote straight on crooked lines, broke all human limitations and theories and gave her a son, John the Baptist.

Has your case been pronounced impossible? Have you given up hope because you believe it is no longer feasible in your life? Are you the target of public scorn? Whatever your circumstances are today, remember that we have a God who writes straight on crooked lines, a God who breaks all theories and human limitations, a God who conquers natural limitations to remove the vail of shame from the lives of those who call on Him. March forth now with faith in this God; He will not let you down; He will straighten up the crooked lines of your life. Amen

May your Tuesday be successful and prosperous.

Fr Isaac Chima